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Owner description: An important post of the Army's Signal Corps since the Civil War, Fort Myer is home to the Army Chief of Staff and the Army's oldest active infantry regiment and was the site of the first military test flight.

I have lived in Arlington, Virginia for over forty years and there are so many benefits living in this area. One of the best interesting, historical, military, fascinating and free attraction – The Old Guard (established in 1784, the 3d US Infantry Regiment) - The United States Army Caisson Platoon on Fort Myer, Virginia. If you travel to the Iwo Jima, the Wright Gate is the gate you enter the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The base is next to the Arlington National Cemetery. NOTE: Your car will be thoroughly inspected and everyone needs a photo ID. There are organized tours: Facebook link: www.facebook.com/oldguard www.army.mil/oldguard Public Affairs Office 703-696-3157 Brief highlights: Old Guard soldiers are in Arlington National Cemetery daily. Sentinels maintain a 24 hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Old Guard is the Army’s premiere ceremonial unit and escort to the President of the United States. The Caisson Barn is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm. A member of the Old Guard will show the horses which are black and grey. Tours of the Tack Rooms, Farrier Room, and Caisson Room are well worth your time. Black Jack was the riderless horse at the funerals of Presidents Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Hoover. Black Jack is buried on Summerall Field.

This is a great experience for both adults and children. It is off the beaten path, but so well worth a visit.

My son is in The Old Guard, public affairs, so we took a ride through Ft. Myer, he showed us some of the General's homes and other buildings, it is quite small compared to most army bases, but more attractive than most, with nice grounds, and of course being directly adjacent to Arlington Nati'l Cemetery is awesome. We also got to see the Twilight Tattoo, amazing show on every Wednesday evening in the summer, with the fife and drum corps, Army band, singers and actors portraying significant events in the history of the Army. Unfortunately it got rained out so we did not get to see the rifle team do their drill.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Mickey64410

Fort Myers

Top Contributor

105 reviews

27 attraction reviews

Reviews in 32 cities

32 helpful votes

“A great Fort”

Reviewed June 18, 2013

Where the "Old Guard" lives and works. They guard the Tomb of the Unknowns and conduct burial ceremonies for veterans that have passed away. It is also home to the Army Band. Tattoo ceremonies on Wednesdays

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Colohunter

Chesterfield, Virginia

Senior Contributor

48 reviews

15 attraction reviews

Reviews in 26 cities

17 helpful votes

“A Little Bit of Military History in Arlington, VA”

Reviewed May 31, 2013

Being a retired naval officer gave us an opportunity to go back to my active duty years. Fort Meyer is an old Post, dating back to the day when horses were the primary means of transportation. Historical homes mixed with modern post exchange, commissary, Officer's Club, etc, bring you back in time to a slower pace of living. Attached next to Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer is definitely worth a visit IF you are active duty or retired military.

Visited May 2013

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Helen A

Sacramento, California

Senior Contributor

34 reviews

16 attraction reviews

Reviews in 8 cities

13 helpful votes

“Mostly an Ordinary Army Base!”

Reviewed May 12, 2013

If you have no experience with the military, you may find the guard station interesting, and the dorms, Base Exchange, bowling alley, and chapels, etc. Generally, it was an ordinary Army base. It was more beautiful than most, because of Arlington National Cemetery in the background, and the lovely trees.

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